Windhoek International School
Encyclopedia
Windhoek International School (known locally as the International School or WIS) is an independent
, co-educational, international school
located in Windhoek
, Namibia
. The school provides education from Kindergarten
through to Year 13. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme
and IB Diploma Programme
as well as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education. As an IB World School it is the only school in Namibia to offer International Baccalaureate programmes and is the one of the first schools worldwide to be authorized to offer these programmes. The school also boasts an international community of students from 43 different countries. Unlike other schools in Namibia, the International School's school year runs from mid-August to mid-June.
in Windhoek and wanted to establish a school whose ethos was openness, free expression, democratic values and international understanding. At its inception the school had no campus and shared campuses with other schools. The School moved into purpose-built facilities in 1994.
The campus includes on-site sports facilities including a football pitch
and a smaller grass field which is used for volleyball and other sports, a PE hall with an indoor basketball court and athletics and gymnastics equipment, an outdoor half court
for streetball
and a tennis court which also serves as an outdoor basketball court. It has a library, an IT lab with more than 20 computers and science labs with advanced scientific equipment for students studying experimental sciences
at IGCSE
or IB
level. The school administration building is located in the centre of the campus and a large parking area has been built on the grounds.
The school hosts the Diogo Cão
Portuguese Language Centre which contains the classrooms for foreign language subjects
, a media centre and an auditorium
for the whole school. The Language Centre also provides Portuguese language classes and other activities after school hours.
The Middle School Programme in Year 7 to 9 transition students from primary school to secondary school and prepare them for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, co-educational, international school
International school
An International school is loosely defined as a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting an international curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national...
located in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. The school provides education from Kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through to Year 13. It offers the IB Primary Years Programme
IB Primary Years Programme
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 11. While the programme prepares students for the IB Middle Years Programme, it is not a prerequisite for it...
and IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
as well as the International General Certificate of Secondary Education. As an IB World School it is the only school in Namibia to offer International Baccalaureate programmes and is the one of the first schools worldwide to be authorized to offer these programmes. The school also boasts an international community of students from 43 different countries. Unlike other schools in Namibia, the International School's school year runs from mid-August to mid-June.
History
The Windhoek International School was founded by the Nielsen family in 1990, the same year Namibia achieved independence. The family were working for the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in Windhoek and wanted to establish a school whose ethos was openness, free expression, democratic values and international understanding. At its inception the school had no campus and shared campuses with other schools. The School moved into purpose-built facilities in 1994.
Campus
The Windhoek International School campus is exceptionally large compared to other schools in Windhoek. The unique shape and layout of the structures was designed to resemble that of an African Village. The classrooms, labs and other buildings are arranged in clusters of green-roofed hexagonal buildings. These clusters are distributed over a wide area and connected by bricked paths covered mostly by corrugated iron shading.The campus includes on-site sports facilities including a football pitch
Association football pitch
An association football pitch is the playing surface for the game of association football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define...
and a smaller grass field which is used for volleyball and other sports, a PE hall with an indoor basketball court and athletics and gymnastics equipment, an outdoor half court
Half court
Half court is a term used in basketball for a shot taken from half court . It is most commonly used as a buzzer beater...
for streetball
Streetball
Streetball or street basketball is a variation of the sport of basketball, typically played on outdoor courts and featuring significantly less by way of formal structure and enforcement of the game's rules...
and a tennis court which also serves as an outdoor basketball court. It has a library, an IT lab with more than 20 computers and science labs with advanced scientific equipment for students studying experimental sciences
IB Group 4 subjects
The Group 4 subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme comprise the main scientific emphasis of this internationally recognized high school programme. They consist of five courses, four of which are offered at both the Standard Level and Higher Level : Chemistry, Biology,...
at IGCSE
IGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of...
or IB
IB
- Places :*Ib , a station in the Indian Railways system*Imperial Beach, California, located in the extreme southwestern corner of the United States*Ib River*International Border*Indo-Pakistani border- Companies and organizations :...
level. The school administration building is located in the centre of the campus and a large parking area has been built on the grounds.
The school hosts the Diogo Cão
Diogo Cão
Diogo Cão was a Portuguese explorer and one of the most remarkable navigators of the Age of Discovery, who made two voyages sailing along the west coast of Africa to Namibia in the 1480s.-Early life and family:...
Portuguese Language Centre which contains the classrooms for foreign language subjects
IB Group 2 subjects
The Group 2 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of the nearly 80 additional languages offered and may be studied at the following levels: A2 , B , or ab initio . Latin and Classical Greek are also offered and may be taken at SL or HL...
, a media centre and an auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
for the whole school. The Language Centre also provides Portuguese language classes and other activities after school hours.
Curriculum
The Windhoek International School is an IB World School and is the only school in Namibia to offer International Baccalaureate programmes. In contrast with other Namibian schools which offer the Namibian Senior Secondary Certificate, the International School offers a variety of International Curricula that it believes better suit its international community of students. The school offers different curricula for different year groups, as shown in the table below:| Year Group | Curriculum | External Moderation |
|---|---|---|
| KG,1-6 | IB Primary Years Programme IB Primary Years Programme The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme is an educational programme managed by the International Baccalaureate for students aged 3 to 11. While the programme prepares students for the IB Middle Years Programme, it is not a prerequisite for it... |
None |
| 7-9 | WIS Middle School Programme | None |
| 10-11 | IGCSE IGCSE The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of... |
University of Cambridge University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally... |
| 12-13 | IB Diploma Programme IB Diploma Programme The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by... |
International Baccalaureate |
The Middle School Programme in Year 7 to 9 transition students from primary school to secondary school and prepare them for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
See Also
- Education in Namibia
- List of schools in Namibia
- List of schools in Windhoek